Division standings as of 8/29/05:Wild card standings as of 8/29/05:Tuesday:PHI: Lidle (9-10, 4.75)NYM: Seo (6-1, 1.30)Wednesday:PHI: Myers (11-6, 3.55)NYM: Martinez (13-5, 2.77)Thurday:PHI: Lieber (12-12, 4.81)NYM: Glavine (10-11, 4.06)Okay folks. This is as big as a series could get this season. Mets vs the Phils. And they are most meaningful games.The turnpike series. You can read my ramblings or just cut to the happy recap wrapup at the end.I chuckle when I hear the word rivalry applied to these two teams meeting, but it has become one over the years. When the Mets are having winning seasons, the Phils have always been a thorn in thier side(see:1987 for example). And now its time for the Mets to stick it to the Phightins and be the shovel that starts throwing the dirt on the grave of the 2005 Phillies.On paper, at seasons start, these two teams figured to be close. I saw the Phils as a possible 2nd or 3rd place team and the Mets right behind them. (but I thought the Braves would be worse than the both, so what do I know,lol)Even with the impressive off season moves the Mets made, I thought the Phils were fielding a slightly better team. But that didnt factor in the reality that has transpired. Phils lose Thome (1b) and Wolfy (SP). I still think of them as a slightly better team than the Mets, overall, on paper. Their pitching?: Not all that. Losing Wolf early on was big, but not and insurmountable blow. Their starters have been plodding along, winning their share, but also losing their share.Lieber is 12-12 and should probly have afew more wins but has suffered bad run support. Padilla is 7-12 but has been pitching better. Lidle's 9-10, a bit disappointing to Phil fans who expected more at this point,and he was just placed on the 15 day DL (left oblique)to make room for newly aquired Mike Tucker. Its Bret Myers who is their best starter and will be properly squared off vs Martinez on Wenesday. He's 11-6 and is the only starter with an ERA under four. Thats not counting Tejeda who has filled in for Wolf and done well for the most part. I like the pitching matchups for the three games and feel they favor the Mets. The Phils bullpen?: We dont want to see Wagner on the mound, is all I can say,lol. Theres afew scenarios in which this could happen, and I prefer the one where we are well in the lead in the 9th.Aside from Billy Wagner(closer:31 saves/ 1.62era)) and Ryan Madson( 62games/72+innings/6 wins) their pen is a question mark. Im not all that familiar with their overall performance. I know sometimes they do their job, and sometimes they fail, similar to the Mets, and most MLB teams out there. They did get Urgueth Urbina recently, and I hate to say it (......Omar), its that move that may make the difference and help the Phils have more wins at seasons end than the Mets. He hasnt been lights out, but he has played his part, pitching well and picking up 3 wins to 1 loss on the way. Aaron Futz has good numbers and a healthy era (48 games/60+innings pitched/3 wins/2.24era) but I cant say I have noticed him when watching or reading about the Phils. I dont know what the deal is with Tim Worrell. Maybe he was out for a bit. His numbers arent impressive. Rheal Cormier hasnt pitched well for the most part with a 6.34 era in 44innings pitched and phans are always trashin him. We reach him and we are playing our game. Pitchers like Galvin Floyd (who did have afew fine performances early on this season) and Terry Adams have overblown ERAs of 12.83 and 14.14 respectively. All we have to do is get a lil deep into their pen and capitalize on those weakspots in the pitching department. Once they have a 9th inning lead, and they roll out Wagner, its uaually all but over. Wagner has blown afew, but its rare. According to my research his last blown save was May 24th. Player wise let me start with these two: They have a flashy shortstop in Rollins and a Mr Consistancy in right fielder Bobby Abreu. Rollins in many ways makes the Phils roll, or has in recent years. But he's not having his greatest season. Still, the Phils have rolled well and he is an important cog in the wheel. He hurts you when you least expect it, one way or the other. Bat, glove or speed. I cant say enough about Abreu. Very consistant numbers since he became the Phils everyday right fielder. Bats around .300 every year(.293 so far) smacks 20 to 30 homers and usually drives in around 100 (22 HRs/ 82 rbi). The guys in his prime. If you saw the home run derby pre allstar game, you may have witnessed his sweet swing. A lot of people noticed (the quiet, unassuming, does his job every year without hardly being noticed) Abreu during that showcase. The guy can hit. I should counter with the fact that Abreu does what he does when he does it, and thats an important factor. He usually hurts you early in the game, when the contest is evolving. He may not hit a homer when you need it most, but he usually keeps rallys alive and well. He very rarely hits the big walk off or is a singular factor late in a comeback, because he seems to push a bit in those situations and tries to do too much. He hits his best when he's not trying to go yard or win the game all by himself.Lieberthal behind the plate is a decent catcher who did hit over 30 homers and drove in 96 one year, back in 1999. Hasnt come near those power numbers since. Batting .247 with 10 homers and 36 rbis. We all know his back up, Todd Pratt. They have David Bell at third, who is no David Wright, but when he's playing well he'll hurt you with the wood and the leather.For a time during the 1st half, Bell led all major league right handed batters in batting average vs left hand pitchers. For all I know he may still, cause right now he is batting .372 vs leftys. He has more homers vs righties(4hr/6 total). His batting average this season at Shea Stadium is .391. 1st base: a new unknown quotent, somewhat like our Jacobs, but a little more seasoned, is Ryan Howard. This call up has been filling in admirably for Thome, and has delivered some clutch hitting and should have a fine MLB career. That is if he, like Jacobs, can keep hitting after teams see him afew times. This guy has adjusted to the adjustments made in his respect, and he has stepped up to help the Phils not roll over because of Thomes loss. In 58 games hes batting .289, with 10 dingers and 35 rbi. This kid is hungry, and the Mets should not take his plate appearences for granted. They should pitch him like he's a vet.Lofton in center is,..............Lofton in center. Hes older, gettin on in yrs, but he brings to the table what Lofton brings to the table. A more than decent centerfielder in most aspects of the game. Burrell. Well, we all know Burrell. The Phils always have to have a bonifide metKiller on their team. And Burrell has certainly strived to play that role. Hasnt really lived up to it this year, but you remember that homer off Glavine afew months ago. It was big and off a good pitch. And he is finally having a season that was expected of him, after having a great year in 2002 (.282/37 hr/116rbi), getting a phatcat contract, and then having two subpar seasons. He's back in the groove. Coming off a game in which he smacked his 25th and 26th homers of the season. he is batting .282 and has a robust 94 RBIs. It looks like he will have similar numbers to what he put up in 2002. When he's hot, he's dangerous. He gets up for playin the Mets . New York pitchers will have to be very careful with Burrell and mix it up against him. Keep him off stride and and unable to lock in. 18 of his 26 homers have come off righties.And let me close by touching on the guy who, in my mind, has made all the difference and who without the Phils would not be in the position they are currently in no matter what. They took a chance and dealt their second baseman Polanco because they felt this guy not only could do the job, but provided a kind of intangable presence. A sparkplug, if you will. Hes a throwback type. Runs out routine groundouts at top speed, always putting out 100% and sometimes more. He's a little guy who gets HUGE hits in the most pressure packed situations, and seemingly when the Phils need them the most. Keep this guys sparky play from igniting the team: 2nd baseman Chase(Clutch) Utley- 19 kabooms 78 ribs .295 average. 19 homers might not sound like much, but everytime Im watchin he seems to be hittin a clutch one. Notes:Their last outing vs the D'backs (lost 10-5) they commited 3 errors. Up to that point they lead the majors with fewest errors by a team, and are currently tied with the Braves at 66. The Phillies are a season-high 11 games over .500 with a record of 70-59. They were last 11-games over .500 with a 86-75 record on September 27, 2003. Philadelphia has the best winning percentage vs. the National League West Division this season, winning 22 of 29 games. The Phils are 8-1 in Brett Myers last nine starts, with Myers posting a 5-1 record in that stretch. So, to wrap:Pitching: Reachable. Myers is the ace.Bullpen: We dont want to see Wagner. We do want to break into their bullpenHitting: Hope Abreu doesnt do his thing, which is hitting. Keep Burrell off stride. Respect Ryan Howards bat. Dont let that little sparkplug Chase Utley ignite rallys or go yard in the clutch.
